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In a detailed, policy-orientated study, Réka Szemerkényi argues that the reforms implemented to date are at risk, and that, while valuable, have often not been sustained. The author highlights how far genuine democratic control of the military in Central Europe is threatened by civilian leaders tolerating the return of military professionals to key positions of control over the armed forces. Arguing that this so-called democratic control of the military forfeits any effective civilian control, she concludes that policy-makers in the West contemplating NATO expansion must demonstrate strong support for civilian - rather than just democratic - control of Central Europe's armed forces.